Cincinnati Reds

A Cincinnati Reds legend is calling it quits.

Joey Votto officially announced his retirement on his Instagram account on Wednesday. While the Toronto Blue Jays signed him to a minor league contract in March, he never appeared in an MLB game this season.

That means he only played for the Reds during his 17-year career at the sport's highest level.

Wow.

Joey Votto just announced on his IG he’s officially retired from baseball.

The future HOFer is done. Cape hung up. #Reds pic.twitter.com/Nvmkt5KCzH

— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) August 21, 2024

Driving to the stadium right now. My Uber driver asked, "Are you a player?" I said, "No."

— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) August 22, 2024

Joey Votto has announced his retirement via his Instagram after 17 seasons, six All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and 2010 NL MVP honors. 👏 pic.twitter.com/jFyhqIXLL8

— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2024

Votto thanked his family and many of his teammates and coaches who helped him throughout his baseball career. He also reflected on his time in MLB.

"Toronto + Canada, I wanted to play in front of you," he wrote. "Sigh, I tried with all my heart to play for my people. I'm just not good anymore. Thank you for all the support during my attempt.

"Cincinnati, I've only played for you. I love you.

"Finally, to the MLB fans. You energized me with your cheers, I loved the boos, the trash talk, the moments where I broke a road cities moment, or was humbled on stage. I'll never forget, early in my career, my first time at Wrigley Field and the crowd standing and cheering toward my failure. I remember standing at the plate, smiling and thinking, this is my home. I belong here.

"I was myself in this sport. I was able to be my best self. I played this sport with every last ounce of my body, heart, and mind.

"Thank you for everything."

Votto first appeared in a game for the Reds during the 2007 season and hinted at what was to come by batting .321 in 24 games. From there, he became one of the best players in franchise history and built a resume that included the 2010 National League MVP, a Gold Glove in 2011 and six All-Star selections.

He led the league in on-base percentage seven times, including during his MVP season when he slashed .324/.424/.600 with 37 home runs and 113 RBI. That Reds team reached the playoffs thanks in large part to Votto's ability to anchor the lineup.

Never forget this Joey Votto moment 😭

(via @THEkeeganhaag)pic.twitter.com/mu3pcfuoEw

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) August 21, 2024

The 40-year-old ends his career all over the Reds' list of all-time leaders.

He is second in on-base percentage (.409), sixth in slugging percentage (.511), second in on-base plus slugging (.920), sixth in games played (2,056), fourth in runs scored (1,171), fifth in hits (2,135), second in doubles (459), second in home runs (356), third in RBI (1,144) and first in walks (1,365).

As he made clear in his message, Votto surely would have loved a final chapter of his career on the Blue Jays as someone who was born in Toronto. It would have been a fitting end and given the Canadian a chance to play in front of his home country's fans.

Alas, he is still one of the best players of his generation and will forever be beloved in Cincinnati.

And Cooperstown, New York, is likely the next step as he eyes the Hall of Fame.

Amed Rosario is heading to a new team after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.

The Cincinnati Reds announced Sunday that they have claimed the infielder off of waivers following his short stint in Los Angeles.

The #Reds today claimed IF Amed Rosario off waivers from the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/AOAkMXt3cl

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 18, 2024

The eighth-year veteran was finding his rhythm with the Dodgers, and he'll now look to keep his momentum as he heads to Cincinnati.

Rosario was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Dodgers at the deadline and played just five games in Los Angeles. On the year, he has a .305 batting average, two home runs and 28 RBI. Should his batting average stay in that range, it would be a career high.

The Dodgers picked up Rosario for some added insurance in case of another injury and while he was a solid addition to the lineup, they no longer needed him with Mookie Betts returning, thus designating him for assignement.

Rosario has proved to be a versatile player this season, spending time at second base, shortstop, third base and right field between the Dodgers and Rays. One such role he could take over with the Reds could be third base, where Noelvi Marte currently plays.

Marte has struggled this year with a .181 batting average, three homers and 12 RBI, and Rosario could serve as an upgrade as the younger player looks to continue developing.

Even with the addition of Rosario, a playoff bid is a longshot for the Reds at this point in the season. Cincinnati is currently sitting in fourth place in the NL Central at 60-63 and would need a strong finish to earn a trip to the postseason.

The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will meet for a game at one of the most iconic motorsports venues during the 2025 season.

MLB announced on Friday that the Braves and Reds will face each other at NASCAR's famed Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee on August 2.

A baseball game like no other ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/o8roaDLzEO

— MLB (@MLB) August 9, 2024

By scheduling a game at Bristol Motor Speedway, MLB is adding another venue to its list for special events. In recent seasons, the league has scheduled games at the Field of Dreams in Iowa, the historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, site of the Little League World Series.

The league has also expanded its international schedule with games in London, Mexico City, Tokyo and Seoul.

Bristol is no stranger to special events, as it hosts two NASCAR races per year that draw nearly 150,000 spectators. In 2016, the venue hosted a college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech that drew a crowd of 156,990, the largest ever for an NCAA football game.

The Braves have been one of the top teams in the National League over the past few seasons, while the Reds are led by one of the most exciting players in the majors, shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

Fans will certainly be pumped to watch Atlanta and Cincinnati battle it out at Bristol next year.

There's no denying that Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz brings an edge every time he steps up to the plate, and the shortstop had no issue calling himself the most exciting player in the majors.

"You're sitting right in front of him," De La Cruz said when ESPN's Jeff Passan asked who the most exciting player is. "...Because I love the game and I enjoy playing baseball. The fans seem like they enjoy watching me play."

Here's my conversation with Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz, who gave the best answer to a question I've heard in a long time.

Me: "Who's the most exciting player in baseball?"

Elly: "You're sitting right in front of him." pic.twitter.com/CL4KeexdxJ

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 5, 2024

De La Cruz has taken a major leap in his second year in the majors. The 22-year-old has 18 home runs (including one inside-the-park home run) and 45 RBI through 109 games, both totals being career-highs, and he has a .255 batting average.

But what makes De La Cruz so exciting isn't necessarily what he does at the plate, but what he does once he's on base. The speedy shortstop has a majors-leading 57 steals so far this season and the player closest to him, Brice Turang, only has 32 stolen bases.

It seems like every time he gets on base he goes for a steal, and he's successful more often than not. Since 2018, just two players have reached the 50+ steal mark, reigning MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. being the other alongside De La Cruz.

Acuña had 73 stolen bases last year, which was the most since 1992. With plenty of time left in the season, De La Cruz could surpass that mark. While he's still early into his career, De La Cruz being the first player to reach 100 steals in a season since 1987 doesn't seem to unrealistic.

For now, he'll look to help the Reds as they continue their rebuild. Barring a miraculous finish to the season, Cincinnati will miss the postseason for a fourth consecutive year. With a young star like De La Cruz, the Reds could be on their way to a bright future.

The trade value of Cincinnati Reds' infielder Jonathan India is reportedly "increasing," according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, due to his "performance and the needs of suitors like the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners."

On the season, India is hitting .271 with eight homers, 40 RBI, 50 runs, nine stolen bases and a .789 OPS.

As Morosi noted, India would help address the Yankees' need for a reliable leadoff hitter. The Reds' infielder is hitting .265 with a .376 on-base percentage in the role, with three homers and 15 RBI.

With the Reds now just 49-53—leaving them fourth in the NL Central, 10 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers, and four games back for the final NL Wild Card berth—they could potentially be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.

There is mixed reporting in that regard, however.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo reported on Wednesday that the Yankees "also have interest in [India], but the Reds aren't expected to make him available unless they drop in the National League Wild Card race over the next week, according to league sources."

India would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Gleyber Torres at second base, who has a .671 OPS this season and has already posted 12 errors.

Seattle, meanwhile, is 53-51 on the season and just one game back of the Houston Astros in the AL West, so adding pieces ahead of the trade deadline to make a playoff push would make sense.

The team's current starter at second base, Jorge Polanco, has been uninspiring at the plate this season, hitting .200 with six homers, 19 RBI and a .583 OPS in 67 games. India would certainly be an upgrade for the Mariners if he's made available.

The struggling New York Yankees, losers of 21 of their last 31 following a season sweep at the hands of the across-city Mets, are interested in trading for Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

That is, if the Reds fall out of playoff contention as that is the only way the team is willing to deal India, per the report.

Say the Reds do, and India becomes available, such a deal will not be the lifeblood reignites what has been one of the league's worst teams over the last month and a half.

The team's pitching, once believed to be one of its strong suits, has given up 45 runs to the Tampa Bay Rays and the aforementioned Mets since the All-Star break.

Gerrit Cole continued to struggle Wednesday, going 5.2 innings and giving up six earned runs on eight hits. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is hardly the only problem with the Yankees' rotation and bullpen. Nestor Cortes (3.99 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (4.42) have struggled against opposing bats, too.

Add to that the fact that the team has given up the fifth-most home runs in the majors this season with 123, per MLB.com, and you have a snapshot of one half of the team's issues.

Offensively, the team is carried by their two superstars: Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who carry .311 and .307 averages, respectively. Only Anthony Volpe is hitting over .250 otherwise and that is just barely (.251).

India would be an improvement in that regard, with his slash line of .271/.374/.415, eight home runs, and 40 RBI. His defense has improved over a year ago and he would be an instant upgrade over Gleyber Torres at that position, too.

Rolling up to the deadline and dealing for India, though, would hardly be the only noise the Yankees could make and think that everything would be right with the world. He is not an explosive bat like Soto or Judge and his defense, while better than a season ago, is more efficient than it is excellent.

The Yankees need another bat that can spark the offense when Judge or Soto is having an off night. They could use pitching depth, with the addition of another starter or a bullpen arm or two that can help retain leads.

The team has been helped in its AL East standing by an Orioles team that has been more streaky than anything this last two or three weeks, especially on the heels of two straight losses to a bad Marlins team. They are not out of it and have done just enough to stay in playoff contention.

If things do not turn around though, it will be a long second-half of the season for a team in the media capital of the United States, with plenty of headlines and talking heads questioning what is next for a team that was expected to contend for a World Series, not just luckily sneak into the postseason amid sub-par pitching and lackluster bats.

The Cincinnati Reds signed pitcher Chase Burns to a contract with a $9.25 million signing bonus, breaking the record set last year by Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

Jim Callis of MLB.com reported terms of the deal, which was officially signed Thursday.

Burns sets a @MLBDraft record with a $9.25 million bonus. Best stuff in the draft, slider may be the best pitch in the draft. Surpasses the $9.2 million Paul Skenes got from @Pirates last year. https://t.co/xTg6nYT5qa

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 18, 2024

Burns was the No. 2 pick in the 2024 MLB draft. The Wake Forest product was the ACC Pitcher of the Year, posting a 10-1 record with a 2.70 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while striking out a jaw-dropping 191 batters in 100 innings.

Most expected the Reds to focus on position players with the second pick, but they came away impressed with Burns' high-90s fastball and knee-buckling slider.

"He's the best college pitcher I've seen," Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter said. "And that's no knock on Paul Skenes, who obviously shut us out for eight innings last year [in the College World Series] and was awesome, or Matt Harvey from North Carolina. ... Chase Burns is the best I've seen."

Burns' biggest challenge at the next level will be figuring out how to curtail the long ball. He gave up 1.3 homers per nine innings during his college career, and Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark is renowned for its hitter friendliness.

The Cleveland Guardians selected Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the top overall pick. With his slot value at well over $10 million, it's likely Burns' record will short lived.

Cam Collier and Drake Baldwin each hit solo home runs to lead the National League to a 6-1 win over the American League in the All-Star Futures Game, featuring MLB's top prospects.

Collier, the No. 3 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, won MVP honors. He received the Larry Doby Award from Baseball Hall of Famer and legend Ken Griffey Jr.

Futures Game MVP has a nice ring to it!#Reds prospect Cam Collier takes home the Larry Doby Award. pic.twitter.com/I3dFBVRPu5

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 13, 2024

Collier's solo homer in the third put the NL on top 1-0.

Cam Collier CRUSHED

The @Reds' No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 84) gives the NL a 1-0 lead with this 409-foot dinger. pic.twitter.com/KVdnAHMdLa

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2024

The NL added three more runs in the fourth off Druw Jones' based-loaded walk, Aidan Miller's based-loaded hit-by-pitch and a Baldwin sacrifice fly.

The AL got one back in the bottom of the fourth off a Jaison Chourio RBI single to score Spencer Jones.

AL is on the board!

Jaison Chourio, the @CleGuardians' No. 3 prospect and brother of big leaguer Jackson, drives in Spencer Jones. pic.twitter.com/znf71SKON0

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2024

However, Baldwin, the No. 11 Atlanta Braves prospect, went yard in response for his second RBI of the day.

Drake Baldwin goes yard!

The @Braves' No. 11 prospect belts the hardest hit (107.3 mph) of the #FuturesGame.

Watch LIVE: https://t.co/L1EdMRWjpq pic.twitter.com/bg67iHnTtq

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2024

Deyvison De Los Santos' RBI groundout in the top of the seventh rounded out the scoring.

AL starter Emiliano Teodo of the Texas Rangers organization had the best day on the mound, tossing two perfect frames to begin the day.

Emiliano Teodo is the first pitcher in #FuturesGame history to toss 2 perfect frames! pic.twitter.com/1KXfNz1FV5

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2024

But the NL bats got to the AL relievers en route to the win.

Cincinatti Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz says he is learning Japanese in order to chat with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

"I don't know if I'm gonna learn, but I'm trying," De La Cruz said.

Elly De La Cruz is learning to speak Japanese so he can talk with Shohei Ohtani ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vpEmJQiIHf

— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2024

If De La Cruz does pick up Japanese, it would not be the first time the 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has added a new language to his repertoire.

De La Cruz in March held a press conference in English for the first time after he said he put in "a lot of work" to practice to language.

"It's so important to me because now you guys understand what I say, and it's important to fans to understand me, and me understand the fans," De La Cruz said.

De La Cruz continued: "I practice every day, talking with the other guys."

The Reds do not currently have any Japanese players on their roster.

But with the contingent of MLB players born in Japan growing— four, including the Los Angeles Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga, made their North American debuts this season— there's a chance De La Cruz will get the chance to practice his third language with a teammate in the future.

For now, De La Cruz has just over a week to brush up on his Japanese before he and Ohtani come together to represent the National League as the All-Star Game takes place on Tuesday, July 16 in Arlington, Texas.

Elly De La Cruz is one of MLB's most impressive young players. Just ask Snoop Dogg.

The legendary hip-hop artist was in the broadcast booth during a matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers and couldn't believe the athleticism and arm strength De La Cruz showed off while fielding his position:

Snoop Dogg is AMAZED by Elly De La Cruz 👀 pic.twitter.com/cefAGsrOsG

— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2024

Snoop Dogg, who was in Milwaukee to throw out the first pitch, was wildly entertaining during his time broadcasting Saturday's matchup:

One, two, three to the four…@SnoopDogg is at your door 🎤 pic.twitter.com/vjKp18QUf5

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 15, 2024

The first pitch thrown by the one and only…@SnoopDogg. pic.twitter.com/KxXrinnA28

— 97.3 The Game (@TheGameMKE) June 15, 2024

#NewProfilePic@SnoopDogg pic.twitter.com/tSJXyrKDH9

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 15, 2024

Here is 2:34 of @SnoopDogg broadcasting baseball...

You're welcome pic.twitter.com/qvcmliQruW

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) June 15, 2024

Not a bad first pitch from Snoop. And a hell of a performance in the booth.

As for De La Cruz, the 22-year-old is hitting .232 this season with 11 homers, 30 RBI, 43 runs, a .749 OPS and an MLB-leading 34 stolen bases. Consistency has been an issue, as he also leads the big leagues with 92 strikeouts, but his upside and star power is undeniable.

If you have Snoop Dogg singing your praises, you know you're on the right track.